Pathways to a Closer Walk: Bible Analogies to Nourish Our Personal Relationship with God

By James A. Blaine

This is a study guide for the Bible’s many relationship analogies. The author provides questions and directives to guide the user in making discoveries about the scriptural truths concerning one’s personal relationship with Christ. Each lesson concludes with a time for reflection, and with an opportunity to compose an appropriate prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973656272

James A. Blaine

Rev. James Blaine is a retired, ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church. He has served as pastor in Wesleyan and United Methodist churches, both in the United States and in Canada. He is a graduate of Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University) and Asbury Theological Seminary. He earned an advanced degree at Western Theological Seminary (MI) in Biblical Literature. With his training and experience, in this writing, he offers his observations and conclusions concerning the timing and manner of Jesus’ coming as the promised Jewish Messiah, and its significance for everyone today.

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Copyright © 2019 James A. Blaine.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5626-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5627-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910625

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/22/2019

To

Wandalou

My dear

wife and helpmeet

and

Rev. Charles Wheeler Sr.

Rev. Richard Laubenheimer,

partners in ministry

Contents

Introduction

The Basics of a Personal Relationship

Understanding the Relationship Analogies in Scripture

Relationship Analogies in Scripture

•   The Yoked Life

•   The Creator and the Creature

•   The Shepherd and the Sheep

•   The Head and the Body Member

•   The Father and the Child

•   The Potter and the Clay

•   The Vine and the Branch

•   The Groom and the Bride

•   The Master and the Servant

•   The Cornerstone and the Building Stone

•   The Friend and the Friend

Summary

Introduction

By divine design, we are created to be in a personal relationship with God—to walk with him—and to know him personally. Jesus echoed the familiar Old Testament commandment—and God’s personal call—in Deuteronomy 6:5 when he spoke in a temple discourse. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with